Yes You Can Turn to Homeschooling Temporarily

By Linda Dobson

Some can find no good reason to stop.

It’s all happened at least once before. Some families see homeschooling as a temporary endeavor, merely a stopgap measure intended to help a child prepare for more schooling in the future, to provide a break from undue peer pressure, or even to give a younger child time to mature physically, mentally, or emotionally. Still other families are afraid to commit to homeschooling for the long haul, choosing instead a homeschooling trail period during which they will test everything from their ability to spend increased time with their children to their children’s ability to learn without a classroom teacher’s pointing every step of the way. While some families apply homeschooling as a problem solver and then move on, others appreciate the results of the trial period and, search as they may, can find no good reason to stop.

A One Year Homeschooling Trial Period

Believing that preschool attendance at age three would help Paul, her shy firstborn, Kristi, of Appleton, Wisconsin, didn’t hesitate to enroll him. “By the time he reached kindergarten age,” says Kristi, “we realized he was very bright. While he benefited from an excellent teacher, he remained quiet and reticent about change and new situations. We continued with public schooling until second grade.”

Then Kristi hear about homeschooling, read up on the subject, and felt encouraged. “Even though he was reading at the fifth-grade level, Paul was timid he could have easily fallen through the cracks at school. My husband, Kurt, was a bit difficult to convince, but, knowing my son as well as I did, I thought I could provide much more academic challenge,” she says. “As he was always comfortable and secure in his home environment, it seemed an ideal situation. We decided on a one-year trial of homeschooling.”

See also Your Child Deserves Better: Standardized Tests

The family grew to include four children, all of whom are now homeschooling. “Our experiment was a success,” Kristi affirms. “At the beginning I wondered about the social aspects of homeschooling, but with neighborhood friends, outside music lessons, and a homeschooling support group, our concerns disappeared. Now Paul and our other children are quite socially competent for children their ages. They have relationships with children and adults of all ages, are respectful of their elders, and enjoy beiing with people. Best of all,” she concludes, “they are learning and enjoying it.”

Temporarily Homeschooling for ADHD, Anxiety Disorder and More

Mary sought a temporary, yearlong homeschooling trial because she couldn’t stand living on antacids any longer. After her family moved to Indiana, her oldest child, Tim, diagnosed with anxiety disorder, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, was having trouble in second grade.

“He was stressed, not pleasant at home, and losing his innate love of learning,” explains Mary. “Because he couldn’t focus in school, he was bringing home two hours of homework – every day! He had no social life. I drilled him on homework constantly, even while he was in the shower, and had little to show for it.”

In addition, the little boy was sent to the principal’s office several times each week when, emotionally overwhelmed by the school experience, he had “outbursts.” Tim’s parents decided to bring him home for a year.

Now, two years later, Mary describes a “pleasant, well-educated boy. No one even believes me when I say we had problems. While his standardized test scores came in at the 52nd percentile two years ago, this year his core total was 86 percent. It has gone so well Tim’s younger brother begged to come home at the end of last year. I’m more stretched than ever (although those homeschooling moms teaching six children would probably laugh at me), but I love being with them and having all day long to share spiritual growth.”

Yes you can turn to homeschooling temporarily. Just remember, if you can’t stop, you were forewarned!

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